Outboard motor mounting for boats



Feb. 14, 1950 L. R. DANIELS OUTBOARD MOTOR MOUNTING FOR sons 2Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 27, 1945 Feb. 14, 1950 L. R. DANIELS 2,497,490

OUTBOARD MOTOR MOUNTING FOR BOATS Filed Sept. 27, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 21 o? millll wllj Patented Feb. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7Claims.

This invention relatesto supporting structures for use with inflatableboats. More particularly, the invention deals with :a mounting forreceiving an outboard motor in an operative position at the stern of aninflatable boat.

Boats ofv the inflatable type referred to are customarily constructed offabric material .preierably employed in a number of impregnated layersmounted one upon another. There is thus afforded an exceedinglylightweight craft which when inflated is of relatively sturdyconstruction. The sides and stern portions of the: boat are usually madein the form of tubular members. To these tubular members it has beenproposed to apply tabs which. are utilized to secure an outboard motor.A principal objection to such an arrangement has been found to be that agreat deal of stress is exerted upon the thin fibre material atlocalized areas tending to cause breaking, which of course results incollapsing of the boat. Moreover the motor is not as firmly held by tabsas is desirable and its position rela tive to the under side of the boatis faulty.

An object of the invention therefore is to pro-- vide improvedsupporting structures for inflatable boats and especially to devise anoutboard motor mounting which maybe secured to the thin fabric wallswithout injuring them and which at the same time is effective in rigidlysupporting the motor in a proper operative position.

To carry out these objectives, Ihave conceived of the idea of utilizingthe change in shape which results from inflating. the tubular sectionsof an inflatable boat to obtain a novel engagementof a motor mounting.ad jacentto the tubular sections. An important feature of the inventiontherefore consists in a motor mounting which includes split ring meansfor engaging around the stern tubular section of an inflatable boat whenin a fully inflated position. The ring. member is in aninflated-condition. This stabilizing *element takes up a part of thethrust resulting from the torque of the motor andcooperateswith the ringmember to prevent rotative displacement of the motor relative to thestern tubular section, as well as imparting supporting action. indirections laterally of the boat.

Another feature of the invention is a light weight demountable unitwhich may be easily and quickly assembled and attached to an in flatableboat while in a deflated condition. Other novel features will appearfrom the following description of the drawings and discussion relatingthereto.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an inflatable boat illustrating my improvedmounting attached thereto and supporting an. outboard motor;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3 -3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is .a perspective view of the mounting of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a rear 'elevational view;

Fig. 7 is a plan view illustrating a modification of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is another plan view illustrating stillanother modification.

The structures illustrated by the drawings illustrate severalembodiments of the invention. It should be understood, however, that theinvention is not limited to these forms and may be embodied in variousother forms in keeping with the spirit of the invention as defined bythe appended claims.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, and to the preferredembodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-6 inclusive, arrow Indenotes a conventional inflatable boat which is constructed of somesuitable material such as rubber-like layers of fabric arranged toprovide a flooring [2, .upon which are mounted tubular sides I4, bow l6,and stern 18. The sections may be inflated in the usual manner by theuse of a bicycle pump. Valve means for receiving and releasing air iscustomarily provided at some protected point along the tubular section.Numerals 20 and 22 denote seats or thwarts which may be separatelyinflated.

The motor mounting of the invention in general includes a rigidenclosure element or a split ring member (Fig. 5)., to which is secureda frame carrying a block. on which may be clamped an outboard motor. Attheiront of the ring member is secured the forward stabilizing elementalready noted. The ring member as well as the stabilizing element dependupon the inflation pressure for engagement with the boat.

The ring member is denoted by the numeral 24 and consists of arelatively wide band of a light metal such as for example aluminum.Masnesium, steel, plastics, plywood and various other substances mayalso be employed. An opening is provided at one side of the ring 24 ofsufficient width to permit easy insertion of loose fabric materialcomprising the stern tubular section 18, in a deflated condition. At theinner periphery of the ring member I have solidly secured a frictionlining 25 which may for example be composed of a rough fabric fastenedto the ring by means of rivets or other type of fastening. The functionof the lining is to grip firmly the inflated stern section and preventrotation of the ring.

One extremity of the split ring 24 is bent back upon itself in themanner shown in the drawings to provide a curved end 26. The curvedformation of the bent end 26 avoids any possibility of gouging thefabric and breaking through the side walls of the boat either duringassembly or actual use of the mounting. The other extremity 2'! of thering member is also bent away from the fabric in an opposite directionfor a similar purpose, as may be more clearly seen in Fig. 3.

Secured to ring 24 at points adjacent to the bent ends 2'! by means ofwing nuts 28 is a forward stabilizing element 30 which is so arrangedrelative to the periphery of the ring member that it extends along in aplane just above and parallel to the flooring [2 of the boat and restsupon the flooring. At its outer extremity the stabilizing element 30 isfurther provided with a cross bar 32 which is adjustably secured by anut or other suitable fastening.

The cross bar is constructed from a relatively flat strip of metal orother suitable material which is of a length generally corresponding toor slightly less than the width or beam of the boat measured between thepoints of engagement of the tubular ends 14 with the flooring I2. Bythis arrangement the ends of the cross bar 32 are caused to assume aposition closely adjacent to the points of engagement referred to andwhen the side walls are inflated they overlie the ends of the cross bar,tightly jamming the end against the flooring l2. To avoid possibleinjury to the fabric and to furnish an even firmer grip, I may desire tocover the outer ends of the cross bar with pads 34 and 36. If desiredthe cross bar may be modified in various respects to increase itscontacting surface on the side walls. For example, the ends may be ofmuch greater width or curved to conform to the arc of curvature of theside tubes in an inflated position, or modified in various otherrespects. Similarly, the forwardly extending portion of the stabilizermay be of varying lengths and width and may carry additional cross barsif desired.

' At the top of the ring member 24 is adjustably secured by wing nut 38a frame piece 40, supporting two other rearwardly extending arms 42 and44 which preferably are constructed integral with the frame piece 40,but may if desired be detachable. The arms 42 and 44 converge to supportbetween their extremities, as shown in the drawings, a block member 45,preferably composed of a hard wood such as maple or oak, of the typecommonly employed as a clamping block for outboard motors.

At the lower rear side of the block 45 is attached another frame element48 which extends angularly downwardly to contact the ring 24, beingadjustably secured thereto by means of a nut or other suitablefastening. The arrangement of a frame member having two diverging armsand a downwardly extending element cooperates with the ring member 24 todevelop a maximum of stiffness which is especially designed to overcomevibration of an outboard motor when clamped to the block member 46.Moreover, the combination of the several frame members, the split ringand the forward stabilizing element in the manner described, tends toproduce a distribution of stress so that there is no concentrated pullat any one localized area. There is thus obtained a smooth, firmsupporting action by the mounting which is completely independent of thestrength of the fabric material utilized in the boat, and whichnevertheless cooperates with the inflated fabric portions and is held bythem in an adequate manner.

In operation, an outboard motor 50 is secured in the usual manner bymeans of a clamp member 52 which is tightly engaged over the blockmember 46, as has been illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. When the outboardmotor has been properly positioned and the motor is started, itsvibratory effects tend to set up forces in the ring member 24 such aswould rotate this member or would cause it to move laterally withrespect to the stern tubular section. Such displacement is completelyavoided by the joint action of the friction lining, tightly grippedagainst the stern tubular section and also by the supporting action ofthe cross bar wedged under the sides of the side tubular sections. Thisaffords a positive brake against rotating movement of the ring member onthe tubular stern section. At the same time, lateral displacement isprevented by the stabilizing effect of the cross bar wedged beneath theside walls. Another important point to note is that by arranging theframe member and block in the particular manner described, a desirablepositioning of the outboard motor relative to the stern of the boat isobtained, with proper operating conditions being provided for so thatthe propeller is not easily caused to rise out of the water duringpassage of the boat in rough seas.

Supporting structures based upon inflation pressure, may take otherforms. For example, in Fig. 7, I have shown a modification of outboardmotor mounting in which I employ a plurality of split rings 56, 58, 60,similar to ring 24, with each of the rings being arranged in spacedapartrelation as shown, and with stiffening arms 62 and 64 being securelyfastened between the two outside rings and the block member 66. Framepieces 68' and 10 may also be secured between the block and the centralring member 58 as shown.

The supporting structures of the invention are not limited to serving asa mounting for outboard motors, but may on the contrary be employed forother purposes such as that illustrated in Fig. 8, consisting of a stepfor receiving a mast to be utilized in carrying a sail. In thisarrangement, two ring members of the class described, 14 and 16, aresecured to the bow of the inflated boat. Extending inwardly in crossedrelation are two strap members 18 and which are united to form anopening 82 in which the foot of a mast may be engaged. Lateralstabilization may also be provided for by means of a cross bar 84generally corresponding to the cross bar 32 already described. Variousother arrangements may be desired.

. It will therefore be seen that the mounting of the invention affords acheap, efiicient, and easily attached device for inflatable boats, welladapted to supporting an outboard motor. The weight of the mounting issmall and therefore the unit can easily be carried with the boat wheninflated. The several parts of the mounting may be disassembled if sodesired to form a compact unit which occupies little space.

I claim:

1. The combination with an inflatable boat having an inflatable tubularsection forming side walls of the boat and a floor extending between theside walls and being secured at their under sides, of a rigid enclosureelement mounted around the outer circumferential surface of a stern sidewall of the tubular section, said enclosure element being adapted totightly grip the tubular section when the latter is in its normallyinflated operating condition, one extremity of the enclosure elementbeing located inside the boat at a point adjacent to the inner junctionof the flooring with its respective tubular section, the other extremityof the enclosure element extending around the tubular section andterminating at the under side thereof at a point adjacent to the outerjunction of the flooring with its respective tubular section, astabilizing element fixed to the inside extremity of the enclosureelement and extending forwardly in contact with the floor of the boatand means on the enclosure element for supporting an outboard motor.

!-2. The combination with an inflatable boat having an inflatabletubular section forming side walls of the boat and a bottom extendingbetween the side walls and being secured at their under side, of a rigidsplit ring element mounted around the outer circumferential surface of astern side wall of the tubular section, said ring element being adaptedto tightly grip the tubular section when the latter is in a normallyinflated operating condition, said ring element cooperating with theinflated tubular section to provide a rigid support which extends from apoint adjacent the inner junction of the bottom with the side walls ofthe tubular section to the outer junction of the bottom with itsrespective tubular section, and stabilizing means connected to the ringelement and projecting forwardl therefrom in contact with the uppersurface of the bottom of the boat.

3. The combination with an inflatable boat having an inflatable tubularsection forming side walls of the boat and a bottom extending betweenthe side walls and being secured at their under sides, of a rigid strapelement mounted around the outer circumferential surface of a stern sidewall of the tubular section, said strap element being adapted to tightlygrip the tubular section when the latter is in a normally inflatedoperating condition, said strap element cooperating with the inflatedtubular section to provide a rigid support which extends from a pointadjacent the inner junction of the bottom with the side walls of thetubular section to the outer junction of the bottom with its respectivetubular section, a support member for an outboard motor mounted on thering element, and a brace member arranged to extend transversely betweenthe sides of the boat and being solidly secured to the strap element.

4. The combination with an inflatable boat having an inflatable tubularsection forming side walls of the boat and a floor element extendingbetween the side walls and being secured at their under sides, of arigid split ring element mounted around the outer circumferentialsurface of a stern side wall of the tubular section, said ring elementbeing adapted to tightly grip the tubular section when the latter is ina normally inflated operating condition, the ring member being arrangedin such relative position with respect to the tubular section that itprovides a rigid support which extends from a point adjacent the innerconjunction of the floor element with the side walls of the tubularsection to a point adjacent to the outer conjunction of the floorelement with its respective tubular section, a support for an outboardmotor mounted on the ring element, said support including two rearwardlyextending arms, a block solidly secured between the extremities of thearms, and a downwardly extending frame element attached between thelower side of the block and the under side of the said ring element.

5. In combination with an inflatable boat having an inflatable tubularsection, rigid enclosure means adapted to tightly grip the tubularsection when the latter is in an inflated condition, supporting meansfor an outboard motor mounted at the rear of the enclosure means, astabilizing element connected to the enclosure means and lying incontact with the upper surface of the floor of the boat, saidstabilizing element cooperating with the enclosure means to transmitstress from an outboard motor mounted on the enclosure means through theflooring to distribute the stress uniformly throughout all points alongthe tubular section.

6. In combination a boat having a flooring and an inflatable tubularsection, split ring means for gripping the tubular section when thelatter is inflated, a rigid member connected to a forward extremity ofthe split ring means and lying in contact with the flooring of the boat,a transversely extending element secured to the rigid member and havingits extremities engaged between the flooring and two opposite sides ofthe tubular section, and a support for receiving an outboard motoradjacent the split ring means.

7. In combination an inflatable boat having a I bottom surface and aninflatable tubular section, split ring means adapted to firmly engagethe tubular section when in an inflated condition, a frame forsupporting an outboard motor extending rearwardly from one side of thesplit ring means, a rigid member secured at an opposite side of the ringmeans and lying in contact with the bottom surface of the boatthroughout its length, a second rigid supporting member extendingtransversely of the first supporting member and secured thereto, thesecond rigid supporting member having its extremities wedged between thetubular section and the said bottom surface of the boat.

LOUIS R. DANIELS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,190,663 Maxwell July 11, 19161,671,874. Rawlings May 29, 1928 1,743,396 Robertson Jan. 14, 19301,869,186 Davidson July 26, 1932 2,150,420 Cooper Mar. 14, 1939

